Final answer:
A child who experiences maltreatment and struggles with being flexible and shifting attention may have delays in cognitive development, which encompasses critical functions including learning, attention, and reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
A child experiencing maltreatment and who has difficulty being flexible and shifting their attention to a new priority may be delayed in cognitive development. This type of development includes learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and creativity. As cognitive development is crucial in how a child processes information and reacts to their environment, difficulties in this domain as a result of maltreatment can lead to challenges such as poor academic performance and difficulty managing emotions and behavior.